Clutch element



2 Sheets-Shea}: l

INVENTOR. @zzaifl,

BY Ewmfi MQ Aug. 24, 1943. E. BAGNALL CLUTCH ELEMENT Filed May 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m V m BY Eda/02' Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLUTCH ELEMENT Edwin Bagnall, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 338,109

3 Claims.

The invention relates generally to a clutch, and more particularly to the construction of a plate or element thereof.

A general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved clutch element, and particularly one that may be manufactured more economically than present day clutch elements using springs or like means.

Another and more particular object of the invention is to provide a clutch element which is unusually smooth in engagement and free of chattering.

Still another object is to provide a clutch element free of parts that might become loosened, resulting in noisy or improper operation, or even loss of those parts.

A further object is to provide a clutch element having a rubber composition driving connection between the hub or sleeve and the remainder of the clutch element.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in elevation and partially in section along the line ll, of Fig. 2 of a clutch element embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View taken from the left in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary axial elevational view of a modified form of clutch element.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6' is a fragmentary axial elevational view of still another modified form of clutch element.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along'the line 'l-'l of Fig. 6.

Fig. '8 is a fragmentary axial elevational view of yet another modified form of clutch element.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

While the invention is here shown and will hereinafter be described in a preferred embodiment and several modifications, it is not intended that the invention is to be limited thereby to the v specific constructions disclosed. On the contrary it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

ferred form of the invention shown in Figs. Ito

3, the clutch element as there shown comprises tary elements of the clutch. Disposed centrally of the plate It] is a sleeve or hub, [3' which is formed internally with splines l4, so that it may have an axially slidable but non-rotatable ,engagement with one of the shafts which are to be coupled by the clutch. Externally the sleeve 13 has a square cross section, as best seen in Fig. l. Herein the sleeve I3 is coupled with the plate It! in a unique manner which not only permits of'economical manufacture of the clutch plate and elimination of parts that might otherwise become loosened and lost, but also has a certain yieldability and resiliency which results in smooth and chatter-free engagement of the clutch element. To that end, there is secured to the plate Iii, as by means of rivets I5, a housing [6 which also is square in transverse cross section. This housing is made substantially larger than the sleeve is, but, in order that the plate Ill may be driven by the sleeve 13 through the housing it, the annular spacebetween the housing and the sleeve is filled with rubber ll under high compression, resulting in a yieldable, resilient and cushioned driving connection between the sleeve and the housing in which there is no metal to metal contact that may wear or make the noise of metal to metal contact With the rubber ll forced into the annular space between the housing and the sleeve under high pressure, and particularly with the sleeve externally being square, there is no danger that the rubber ll will yield so much as to permit turning of the sleeve with respect thereto. However, in order to stiffen the rubber ll, there is embedded directly in the rubber, along each wall, a spring 18 which is in the form of a single leaf, flexed to bow inwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, and projecting from the rubber H at its ends to bear against a wall of the housing l6 near but short of the corners thereof. This spring strip, as best seen in Fig. 2, has a width equal to the axial v the sleeve I3.

As a precaution against possible excess rotation of the sleeve l3 relative to the housing [6 and the clutch element [0, a metal to metal limit of the sleeve relative to the plate is permitted.

However, any relative rotation beyond a predetermined amount will result in the corners of the sleeve l3 striking edges of the aperture is formed in the plate, and by such contact will thus result in a permanent, unyielding stop whichprevent excessive relative rotation between the sleeve and the housing.

It is to be noted also that the dimension'sof the hub I3 and the housing [G are such that, even without any rubber interposed therebetween, the

cornersofthe hub it would strike thesprings-l8 before the hub had rotated! 45 relative to the housing. Withthe rubber being compressed be tween the corners oi the hub l3 and the springs l8- backed by the housing it, a positiv limit or relative rotation substantially short of the 45 mentioned is thus provided. Thus, after slightrel'ative rotation betweenthehub and the housing,- particularly inthe square typeof construction here shown or inany other ec-nstructionprovi'dingcorners, the rubber compressed betweenthe corners and the housing tends to carry the load, relieving. the strainplaced upon the pure gripping. action of the rubber,- and thus tendsto prevent permanent'displacement of the hub rela': h

tive to the rubber packing and: to the housing l6.

Turning now to a consideration ofthe for-m of clutch element shown in- Figs. 4 and 5,; there is there shown a disk-like plate 25; generally silnila-r to the plate itof the preferred form. Again: I

mounted centrally of the plate is a' sleeve 26 adapted'to have an axially slidable butinon-rotat able engagement with one of the shafts to becou'pled byt'he-clutch. A's bestseen in-Fig, the

sleeve -Z is gi ven a hexagonal. external shape,

though it is to be understood-,. of course, that this shape may vary wit'houtdeparting from th spirit and scope or the invention. The sleeve 2 is again formed: with a reduced. neck portion 21,

receivable in an a erture 28 formed in the plate which aperture, as Well as the reducedneck portion 2'5 ofthe sl'eeve,ar'e made circular. Firmly and tightlysurround'ing the sleeve .26 is an annular" 1ayer Orr-utter 29', which again serves plate. 25.

In" this form of the clutch element, cost of manufacture is further reduced by the elimination of the inetal housing employed in the preierred'fiirm. In orderth'at 'tlie annular layer 29 of". rubber may be attached to the plate 1 5 it is formed at its inner end with a radially extending. fian'ge of substantial thickness. This flange is-protect'ed and strengthened by anannula-r ring.

3i which iscangul'ar in crosssectic-nisoas to ex tend'over' the exposed edge andl theperipheryof the flange. The flange and the. ringare, by. rivets 32; securedt'o the'plate- 2 d.

n1. Figs- Y and 7, there-is shown still anothermodli'ied of clutchelementr lie the element ofl F igs. to-3 ,.it comprisesadislscr $5 carrying an annular strip 38' of'friction material at its outer periphery, and having mounted centrally ofthe plate a sleeve 3! which is internally spline'dito have an axially slidable but non-rotatable engagement with one of the shafts to be coupled by the clutch. In this form, the sleeve 31 is again hexagonal externally, and cooperating with the sleeve to form a driving connection to the plate is a housing 38 which also is hexagonal. This housing, however, instead of being riveted to the plate is formed integrally therewith, as best seen in Fig. 7, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing the clutch element. Again interposed between the sleev 31 and the housing 33' is a packing of rubber 39 which is" put in under considerable pressure so as to form 'a firm but yieldable driving connection between the sleeve and the housing capable of withstanding the more or less constant torsional strain which will be placed on the clutch. In order that the heat that may be generated by the clutch, especially when there-is slippage of the cooperating elements, may not through the plate 35 and the housing 38 be" transmitted to the rubber 39 and result in deteriorationor slippage or the rubber inthe housing, athin layer of asbestos 40' isinterposed between the housing 38 andtherubber packing 39; It is believed apparentthat this form of the inventiorr, like tha-tshown irr Fig-s;- 4 and 5, is more economically manufactured than the preferred form,:becausethe housing 3ris-made integral with the plate and thus may be; formed along: withthe remainder of the plate ina single stamping operation, eliminating. the costof a-separate nousing and the riveting' of such housing: to the: platen The sleeve 31 is also made without a reduced neck portion at oneend, thus further eliminating one operation and thereby contributing to decreased cost-o-f manufacturer In Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown the mcst simpliiiedformand a fer-rn which is particularly welladapted forligh-tloadsi Inthisjorm the element again com-prisesa plate 42 having: acentrall y located circular aperture lii Mounted centrally of the plate isa; sleeve-A4 which-is oircular and: whichhasa reducedcircularneck portion: {5 received inthe aperture 43.- Enclosing the sleeve is a housing 46 attached to-theplate by rivets tfiand also circular the same as the sleeve M3. interposed-between the sleeve and the housing 46 is a; packing- 43 of; rubber which is forced between the sleeve and-thehousing under pressure so as fir-inly to engage boththe sleeve and the housing despite the fact: that both are circular. The rubber packing- 4 2} grips the sleeve and the housing s'ufiieientfly tight1y,- even' though there are no projectionsthereom-to'transm'it rot'atio'n of' the sleeve to the housing and plate 42 or vice' v'efsa.

I'claim as my invention:-

l A- clutch" element comprising a metal disk having normal: thereto ahousing-like flange formed integrally-therewithat'its center, a-hub separate from said diskreceived within said flange andginraclialiy spaced relation thereto,

tat'ably' engaging said flange toform a drivine connection therebetween, and anasbestos lining interposed between said flange and said rubber composition to prevent transmission of heat from said disk to said rubber composition.

3. A clutch element comprising a metal disk having a housing-like flange drawn from the disk at its center to project laterally thereof, a hub separate from said disk received Within said flange and in radially spaced relation thereto, and a packing of rubber composition forced into the annular space between said hub and said flange non-rotatably gripping said hub nonrotatabiy engaging said .flange to form the sole driving connection, therebetween.

EDWIN BAGNALL. 

